Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration

Consumer Affairs Program

What is the Consumer Affairs Program?

In 1995, CMHS hired its first consumer affairs specialist. As the consumer movement grew, so, too, did the number of CMHS Consumer Affairs staff. Today, the Consumer Affairs Program, within the Office of the CMHS Director, plays a lead role in developing and implementing consumer information activities, supporting consumer-operated networks, and coordinating CMHS anti-stigma efforts. The Program works in partnership with other Federal agencies, as well as with public and private health and human service agencies, to develop standards and guidelines for mental health services, ensure that consumer mental health needs receive adequate attention, and promote consumer participation in services.

What does the Consumer Affairs Program do?

The Consumer Affairs Program exists to amplify the voice of recipients of mental health services by promoting and facilitating meaningful consumer participation in all aspects of CMHS programs. In August 2000, CMHS announced the formation of a Consumer/Survivor Subcommittee to provide guidance and feedback to the CMHS National Advisory Council on mental health-related activities and policies. The subcommittee serves as a fact-finding body that reports on specific needs, issues, and concerns from the perspective of people living with mental illness. The subcommittee is an extension of CMHS' continuing efforts to involve consumers/survivors at every level of the mental health system.

What is the status of mental health consumer participation and involvement?

For many years, decisions about mental health policies and services were made without any input from people who have mental illnesses or their families. As a result, some policies and programs failed to meet the needs of the people they were intended to serve. Soon, mental health consumer groups began cropping up to provide alternatives to what they saw as an oppressive and often abusive mental health system.

Since the late 1970s, mental health services have been transformed by the growing influence of consumer and family organizations. Consumers have advocated for their positions on the role of involuntary treatment, self-managed care, consumers in research, the delivery of services, and access to mental health services. Through strong advocacy, consumer and family organizations have gained a voice in mental health research, legislation, and service delivery. While the organizations representing consumer and family members differ in their origins and philosophy, all share the overlapping goals of overcoming stigma and preventing discrimination, promoting self-help groups, and promoting recovery from mental illness.

The Center for Mental Health Services (CMHS) is an agency of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. CMHS serves as the focal point for Federal efforts to make high-quality, community-based, services available and accessible for people with, or at risk of developing, mental illness and their families.

Center for Mental Health Services
Consumer Affairs Program
1 Choke Cherry Road, Suite 6-1069
Rockville, MD 20857
Phone: 240-276-1330
Fax: 240-276-1340
Paolo del Vecchio, M.S.W., Associate Director
Carole Schauer, M.S., R.N.
Chris Marshall

11/2004